And Here We See… W-wait, Not That Way!

Loud hammering on stone and the creaking of heavily loaded carts filled the morning air as Aeneas looked down from Byrsa Hill upon the bustling, ever-growing city below.

The salty scent of the sea drifted up to him from the harbor, and he inhaled deeply.

For a moment, he smiled in satisfaction.

But his smile vanished the instant the palace gates opened behind him and Korydros stepped out, accompanied by the other Trojans.

“W-what are you doing here?”

“Why, we shall of course accompany you, my lord!” the commander replied as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Oh come on! How am I supposed to get closer to Dido with these babysitters breathing down my neck?

“That won’t be necessary, good Korydros. I can look after myself. I wouldn’t want to trouble you too much…”

But Korydros gently shook his head.

“You are too kind, my lord. Please do not worry, your protection is not only our duty, but our privilege!”

Aeneas forced a tired smile.

Yeah… I could do without your privilege.

Before he could press the matter further, the gates opened again.

Dido stepped out, accompanied by her handmaiden Eshmunet, an entire entourage of Carthaginian guards, and the court official Reganobal.

Her attire was less festive than at the banquet. She wore a form-fitting purple tunic with a gold-embroidered hem, and over it a white palla cloak fastened with a brooch shaped like a crescent moon.

Aeneas’ joy at seeing her lasted only briefly when he realized she, too, would not be alone.

He sighed.

So much for our date…

As she approached him, the queen leaned toward her handmaidens’ ear.

“So, Esh, is everything prepared? It must be absolutely perfect.”

Eshmunet nodded nervously.

“Yes, Lady Elissa. The route has been meticulously planned.”

“Excellent.”

Not long after, they were already making their way through the streets of Carthage. 

Aeneas and Dido at the front.

🏛️🏛️🏛️

The Trojans curiously examined the foreign-looking buildings and soon noticed the differences from their homeland.

Instead of the winding alleys of Troy, where stone megaron houses once lined the ring-shaped roads leading up to the great citadel, Carthage was dominated by tall, multi-story mudbrick buildings and meticulously planned streets.

“Everything feels so… orderly and structured… completely different from Troy,” Korydros observed in astonishment.

Dido smiled with satisfaction.

“Carthage is a planned city. It was built with functionality in mind. We call it the Phoenician Order.”

“Phoenician Order?” Aeneas asked curiously.

The queen nodded.

“The entire street layout is arranged at right angles, clearly dividing the city districts from one another. The harbor is structurally integrated and connected by a direct thoroughfare to the merchant and artisan quarter. It makes transporting goods far easier.”

Aeneas thought back to what he remembered of his old home.

Carthage really is completely different from Troy. I can’t even remember how many times I got lost in those narrow alleys back then…

When Dido noticed his fascinated expression, she cheered inwardly.

There we go! Looks like he’s already impressed.

“Next, we will pass the great temple dedicated to our patron goddess Tanit. It was only recently completed and...”

But the queen was abruptly interrupted by furious shouting.

“Move your damn cart! I have the right of way!” a voice yelled.

“Make me!” another voice shot back, one Dido knew all too well.

A cold shiver ran down her spine.

Oh dear Melqart… please not him again…

Ea-Nasir sat atop his ox cart like an immovable boulder, the reins clutched tightly in his hands.

Opposite him sat another equally bulky wagon loaded with amphorae, pulled by several mules.

“This is a one-way street, you idiot! Back up already! I have to deliver this olive oil by noon!”

But the fat, hunched merchant with the scruffy beard had no intention of moving.

“What do I care about your olive oil? I have an important copper shipment, and this route is the fastest!”

The carts blocked the entire road, and before long, a line of wagons had formed behind them.

Aeneas raised an eyebrow.

“Quite the chaos…” he remarked dryly.

Dido went pale at his words, sweat forming on her brow.

This is bad! Now he’ll think everything here is total disorder and there’s no structure whatsoever! I have to fix this immediately…

With a stiff, twitching smile, she turned to her entourage.

“Would you be so kind as to handle this matter so that we may proceed quickly, esteemed Reganobal?”

There was something in her eyes that sent a cold shiver down the court official’s spine.

“Y-yes, my queen…”

At once, he hurried off with the guards toward the quarreling merchants to restore order.

But when Ea-Nasir saw them approaching, he suddenly snapped the reins.

“Oh damn it, the city guard!”

“STOP!” Reganobal shouted, but the oxen were already charging forward.

Moments later, the carts collided.

The loud crash of shattering amphorae echoed through the alley.

“MY OLIVE OIL!”

Dido blinked in horror before turning to Aeneas.

“Ha… rush hour problems, am I right? Hahaha…ha…”

Her monotone laughter slowly faded as she screamed internally.

THIS IS A DISASTER!!

Aeneas merely scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

Is she expecting something clever from me? I have no idea about traffic logistics! What am I even supposed to say?!

“Y-yeah, exactly… happens all the time…”

He glanced at Dido’s Carthaginian retainers, who were desperately trying to clear the chaos.

So this is how a true leader acts… without hesitation she gives orders to her people. If I can’t respond something clever, I’ll at least have to prove I can act just as decisively!

Resolutely, he turned to his general.

“Should we not offer our host our most vigorous assistance, good Korydros?”

Dido’s eyes widened.

Crap! He thinks I’ve lost control of the situation!

“I-I don’t believe that will be necessary...”

But Korydros had already straightened up and nodded.

“By all means! An excellent idea, my lord.”

He gestured for the Trojan guards to follow, and soon they joined the Carthaginians.

Left behind were only Aeneas, Dido, and her handmaiden Eshmunet.

When Aeneas realized it, his thoughts raced.

We’re almost alone now. This is my chance to get closer to her. Now or never!

He cleared his throat.

“Well… this might take a while…” he said at last, his gaze unsteady, before pointing toward a side street branching off. “Perhaps that road over there also leads toward the temple you mentioned?”

Eshmunet nodded, surprised that he addressed her.

“Yes, my lord, though it passes through...”

Dido screamed internally.

AHHHHH!

Flailing her arms, she stepped between them and cut off her startled handmaiden.

“T-that’s not a good idea! It would be a large detour, and I… I don’t want to strain you physically. M-maybe we should just wait until the street clears. It surely won’t take much longer!”

Aeneas’ gaze shifted to the blocked street.

The oxen had lain down, chewing lazily, and guards and merchants were desperately trying to push them aside together. But the spilled olive oil kept making them slip.

“Doesn’t exactly look like things will be moving again anytime soon…” Aeneas commented dryly, while Dido continued staring in despair.

She mustn’t think I’m some weakling. I have to show her I’m a man of action!

“Don't worry, Your Highness. A small detour doesn’t trouble me in the slightest.”

And before she could respond, Aeneas had already started walking.

Dido stared after him wide-eyed before hurrying to catch up, Eshmunet close behind.

“W-wait! That really isn’t a particularly good route! It… it leads to…”

But Aeneas just kept walking.

Yet the farther they followed the path, the fewer people they encountered.

All wore cloths or masks tightly pressed over their faces.

When Aeneas noticed it, he slowed down.

“Say, Your Majesty, why is everyone here...”

He stopped abruptly as he reached the end of the street, stepping into a large square.

What is...

By the time Dido and Eshmunet caught up, they had already pressed as much fabric as they could spare from their clothing tightly over their faces.

Aeneas wrinkled his nose.

WHAT IS THAT HORRIFIC STENCH?!

Nausea overwhelmed him.

He clapped both hands over his mouth before retching uncontrollably.

Moments later he looked down at his half-digested breakfast, breathing heavily,

Dido stood behind him in a mixture of panic and regret, unable to utter a word.

Eshmunet cautiously stepped beside Aeneas, her cloth pressed firmly to her face, while holding another out to him.

“Breathe shallowly, Prince Aeneas. This is the Purple Quarter…”

He tried to regain his composure, straightening up as he staggered.

“Lovely... I really like... the...“

His gaze fell upon the numerous wooden vats, brimming with the rotting carcasses of snails fermenting beneath the blazing sun.

“...view?“

Flies swarmed in dense clouds above the bubbling contents.

Aeneas retched again, while Dido stared in horror.